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Why Digital Minimalism Matters
If you’ve ever picked up your phone to check an Outlook event and ended up reading a news article, scrolling Instagram, or buying a pair of shoes you didn’t need… you know the problem. While familiar to every smartphone user, this phenomena has also been well documented by academia.
Most devices today are built for more — more apps, more notifications, more screens competing for your attention. But what if your work required less?
That’s the idea behind digital minimalism: intentionally using technology to serve your goals, not steal your focus. And that’s why the reMarkable 2 and Paper Pro are such powerful tools for business executives, consultants, and creators.
Poet Christine Evangelou on a cluttered mind:
“A crowded mind leaves no space for a peaceful heart.”
The Problem with Multi-Function Devices
Smartphones, laptops and iPads are productivity powerhouses — but they’re also distraction factories. One moment you’re drafting meeting notes, the next you’re clicking on a Slack notification and your train of thought is gone. With the multi-functional nature of these electronic devices, it’s hard to stay focused on a single task.
Even if you have discipline, your brain pays a cost every time it context-switches. Research has shown it can take over 20 minutes to fully regain deep focus after an interruption.
This is where the reMarkable’s so-called “limitations” become its superpower: no social media, no pings, no open browser tabs. Just your thoughts and your work. These potential shortcomings actually enable deeper focus, without all of the distractions of “fully featured” devices.
How the reMarkable Enables Digital Minimalism
Here’s why I call the reMarkable the ultimate minimalism device:
- Distraction-free note-taking — You can create a dedicated notebook for every project, meeting, conference, or brainstorming session without worrying about pop-ups.
- Clean reading experience — The “Read on reMarkable” feature lets you send articles and PDFs to your tablet so you can read them later — without ads or comment sections.
- Paper feel without paper clutter — Ditch the stack of half-used notebooks and keep everything in one slim device.
- Weeks-long battery life — Charge it, throw it in your bag, and forget about power outlets for days at a time.
Setting Up Your reMarkable for Minimalism
You don’t need every document you’ve ever created on your tablet. Minimalism starts with intentional setup.
- Simplify your reMarkable home screen — Keep only current notebooks and critical PDFs visible. Archive the rest or put them into dedicated folders.
- Use a single daily planning template — I recommend a one-page daily plan (available free or on Etsy).
- Protect your reMarkable 2 or reMarkable Paper Pro with the right cover – you’ll want to confidently carry your reMarkable everywhere with you.
A Real-World Minimalist Day
Here’s an example of how I’ve used my reMarkable to keep my day distraction-free:
- 7:00 am – Morning coffee + daily plan in my “Today” reMarkable notebook.
- 9:00 am – Project meeting notes on a clean template. No email, no Slack.
- 11:30 am – Review a client proposal PDF over lunch. Sign NDA on my reMarkable.
- 2:00 pm – Visit a construction crew and take improvement idea notes.
- 4:00 pm – Read two articles from my “Read on reMarkable” queue.
- 8:30 pm – Quick journal entry before bed.
By the end of the day, my phone screen time is under four hours (including phone calls), and my brain isn’t fried from digital noise.
Final Thoughts on Using a reMarkable Tablet for Digital Minimalism
Digital minimalism isn’t about rejecting technology — it’s about choosing the right tech. The reMarkable strips away the noise and gives you space to think, write, and plan without distraction.
If you’re ready to try it, I challenge you: one week with your reMarkable as your only work device for planning, note-taking, and reading. I think you’ll be hooked.
Start your minimalist setup today:
- reMarkable 2 version
- reMarkable 2 Paper Pro version
FAQs on Digital Minimalism and the reMarkable Tablet
Digital minimalism is the quest to minimize our personal use of electronic devices in an effort to be more present and aware of our life.
No! There are many ways to minimalize the impact of digital devices on our life. While one extreme might be totally avoiding smart phones, and other would be to replace habitual smart phone use with something more intention (like the reMarkable)
A paper tablet (like the reMarkable 2 or reMarkable Paper Pro) can replace key functions of a smart phone and laptop like note taking, daily planning, and document markup.
